lo Feb., igii.] Examination of Artificial Manu/es. 



77 



The first country ilistrict visited was the VVimmera, then the area north 

 of Bendigo, and finally the Gippsland and Western Districts; 131 samples, 

 representing 494 tons of manure, were collected. Particulars are given in 

 the following list : — 



Maiiiir. 



Superphosphate 



Bonedust and Superphosphate 



Bone FertiUzer 



Bonedust 



Nitro-Superphosphate 



Blood .. .. .. .. 



" Star "' (Thomas Phosphate) and Superphosphate 



Dissolved Bones 



Various and Mixed Manures 



The various and mixed manures comprised samples of dissolved Peruvian 

 guano, nitrate of soda, animal fertilizer, leguminous rape, special grain, 

 potato, orchard and vine and maize manures, guano and Thomas or star 

 phosphate. The majority of the samples of superphosphate, tonedust and 

 superphosphate and nitro-superphosphate were obtained in the Northern 

 Districts whilst the Southern Districts supplied practically all the bone 

 fertilizers, bonedusts, blood and mixed manures. 



The analyses of superphosphates collected agreed with the guarantees, 

 i.e., within the limit allowed by the Act. The tendency in the superphos- 

 phate manufacture, however, is to give a high content of insoluble phos- 

 phoric acid at the expense of the more valuable soluble compounds. As 

 superphosphates are principally used in the dry districts of the North, 

 where the value of a manure depends u])on the percentage of the water- 

 .soluble constituent, this is rather a disadvantage. 



The analyses of the samples of mixed manures collected were, on the 

 whole, satisfactory, although in one or two instances the potash content 

 was low. 



The majority of the bonedust samples inspected were of good grade, 

 especially those from country mills. In this section, however, there were 

 five pro.secutions. 



The samples of bone fertilizer, a manure made up of bonedust, super- 

 phosphate, gypsum and rock phosphate and which is supposed to act as 

 well as lx>nedust, Iseing often sold as such, all analvsed above the guar- 

 antc<'. It should be remembered by the producer when buying bone fer- 

 tilizer that this manure cannot, at the price, be compared with l>onedust. 

 Bone fertilizers contain, at the most, one-third bonedust and not one of the 

 ingredients which make up the remaining two tliirds is as \aluable as this 

 manure. 



On the whole, as a result of the inspection and the analvsis of the 

 samples, it is satisfactory to be able to record that the manures supplied to 

 the farming community during the year iqio were of a very even stan<iard. 

 During the year several pmsecutions for technical offences ha\e taken place, 

 whilst for lesser violations "arnings were given. 



